Back to Previous

Building Safety Act

Tag
Author
Date published
Price

The Building Safety Act will put in place new and enhanced regulatory regimes for building safety and construction products.

In England and Wales, the Government has introduced new legislation (the Building Safety Act 2022) covering the design, construction and management of higher-risk buildings (existing and new) and the building control regime. The legislation is designed to provide greater safety, quality, transparency of the building process and accountability of the professionals involved. Furthermore, the Act aims to provide key stakeholders, such as residents, with reassurance and confidence that the buildings that they are utilising are safe.

The Building Safety Bill 2019-20 was announced in the Queen’s Speech on 19 December 2019 following the Grenfell Tower fire on 14 June 2017. On 28 April 2022, the Bill received Royal Assent, becoming law as the Building Safety Act 2022.

The main aims of the Act are to:

  • Create an enhanced safety framework for high-risk residential buildings, taking forward the recommendations of the Hackitt review.

  • Provide clearer accountability and stronger duties for those responsible for the safety of high-rise buildings, with clear competence requirements to maintain high standards.

  • Give residents a stronger voice in the system and ensure that they fully understand how they can contribute to maintaining safety in their buildings.

  • Strengthen enforcement and sanctions to deter non-compliance.

  • Develop a new, stronger and clearer framework to provide national oversight of construction products.

  • Develop a new system to oversee the whole built environment, with local enforcement agencies and national regulators.

  • Require that developers of new build homes belong to a New Homes Ombudsman.

We are still expecting further information and clarification on the Act from the Government, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and Building Safety Regulator (BSR). In the meantime, we are providing support and guidance to our members and will be updating this section as information becomes available and further resources are developed. 

Collaborative Reporting for Safer Structures UK (CROSS-UK)

IStructE is also involved in CROSS-UK, which aims to help professionals make structures safer by publicly publishing safety information based on reports received. CROSS-UK is a trusted provider of free safety information for the built environment.

Find out more about CROSS-UK

Building Safety Act - All Change (Griffiths & Armour)

Read further on the Building Safety Act and how changes may impact those operating within construction, with a focus on the liability and insurance implications for construction professionals.

Further information and resources

<h4>Impacts on the role of the structural engineer</h4>

Impacts on the role of the structural engineer

Overview of the Building Safety Act and the impacts on the role of the structural engineer.

<h4>New buildings process</h4>

New buildings process

Learn how the Building Safety Act impacts on the new buildings process.

<h4>Golden thread</h4>

Golden thread

Discover how the golden thread principles will help you to keep both the building and people safe.

<h4>Safety cases</h4>

Safety cases

Get information on developing and maintaining a safety case for higher-risk buildings.

<h4>Existing building assessments</h4>

Existing building assessments

Learn how existing high-rise residential buildings will be assessed under the Act.

<h4>Gateways</h4>

Gateways

Learn more about the three gateways at key stages in design.

Related events

Meeting
Image credit is David Rush,  University of Edinburgh. David gave a permission for the Institution to use the image in promoting the “Structures in Fire Forum” event on 29 September 2023, HQ.

Structures in fire forum

This all-day fire forum discusses current research and explore industry trends and problems.

Date – 29 September 2023
Location – The Institution of Structural Engineers, 47-58 Bastwick Street, London, EC1V 3PS
Price – Free
Course
A computer model of a walkway in Geneva

Understanding structural design

This two-day, online course extends the principles developed in the Understanding Structural Behaviour course. It covers more complex real structures and failures; and the important skills of approximate analysis for checking computer output and member sizing.

Date – 10 October 2023
Location – Online
Price – £485 - £745 + VAT
Webinar
Image of GSA webinar on 24 October 2023. Credit by Oasys, ARUP

Giving power to users with Oasys GSA

Discover Oasys GSA’s versatile analysis and design capabilities including new, enhanced features and updates that give power and control to users.

Date – 24 October 2023
Location – Online
Price – Free
Lecture
Image showing a brick of building materials

Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC): what structural engineers need to know

A technical lecture sharing guidance on how to recognise RAAC and assess risks.

Date – 26 October 2023
Location – Online
Price – Free
Course
two people at a desk looking over a contract

Contract law for engineers

Through case studies of practical issues arising from commercial contracts, this introductory one-day, online course outlines the essential terminology of commercial contract, and it explains the essentials of contractual relationships.

Date – 9 November 2023
Location – Online
Price – £305 - £485 + VAT
Lecture
<h4>Structural fixings: A building's weakest link</h4>

Structural fixings: A building's weakest link

Chris Shaw will give a technical talk on structural fixings.

Date – 13 November 2023
Location – Lecture Theatre M, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 7XH
Price – Free